新概念英语3--（一天学一篇）--- 21

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课文21  丹尼尔.门多萨
/ U1 Q5 A; ]9 i2 g3 Q( x: {348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.
2 @: R( W3 d- e( l2 a: c        两百年前，拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。
$ [7 x6 i) B; g5 e) I$ u- o6 ?+ Z349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
        当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
1 |/ K) R) a. _8 y/ O351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
        不过，拳击是十分野蛮的，因为当时没有任何比赛规则，职业拳击手有可能在比赛中受重伤，甚至丧命。
: \! g  G. O) G" D# I352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
! p6 }/ T! A9 o4 \7 N  J  W* m* H        拳击史上最引人注目的人物之一是丹尼尔.门多萨，他生于1764年。
353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
# B7 u" {& L( l. v) R" G        1860年昆斯伯里侯爵第一次为拳击比赛制定了规则，拳击比赛这才用上了手套。
0 ?/ Y; }1 N: ?( S8 B" h; \' f354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
8 J) a" k" `0 L( _4 ?* K5 r. l. e5 v        虽然门多萨严格来讲不过是个职业拳击手，但在把这种粗野的拳击变成一种体育运动方面，他作出了重大贡献。是他把科学引进了这项运动。
355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
        门多萨在的全盛时期深受大家欢迎，无论是富人还是穷人都对他祟拜备至。
356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
        门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
9 \, K6 H1 u  N% R9 H8 A357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
9 b! _8 F- X0 B        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
1 `" }5 _! [% ^3 N3 t; b358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
' ^2 H/ J0 Z2 J- Z; Q: L        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
1 i! [4 p, F, p7 C359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
. k% O. i9 i& [- ~( l        事实上，门多萨不久便名声大振，致使汉弗莱斯与他反目为敌。
0 t1 Y: o3 n" u9 V. s. U1 q4 ?1 \360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
6 ^2 n( M* Q' y1 j5 ^        两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
6 R5 M8 q3 x; |# j" D' R8 |. i361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
  c6 c' w% v0 f0 W: ]! ~" [  T$ a        于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场，厮打了一个小时。
6 q% K. q$ P  c$ o  x5 w362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
, P  k% }1 p( r3 T/ |        公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上，但他却输了。
% J' {* T  y& C5 V& r$ U2 d6 N% T363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
9 ]1 M! u: l5 g3 i; W0 R0 N        后来，门多萨与汉弗莱斯再次在拳击场上较量，门多萨又输了一场。
364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
0 L/ J" Z) N1 e5 ?. Z2 M        直到1790年他们第3次对垒，门多萨才终于击败汉弗莱斯，成了全英拳击冠军。
0 T$ r( q4 g, N* E2 K2 M' Z1 y365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
" Z7 B! S2 z2 \        同时，他建立了一所拳击学校，办得很成功，连拜伦勋爵也成了他的学生。
366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
        尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。
368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
        他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
/ ]) E# x7 _  W3 l& a" b369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
5 ?4 a$ ]9 G& n        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。